Binh Tan District in Ho Chi Minh City

Other than those who live here, arguably, most locals know very little about Binh Tan District besides the fact that it houses Aeon Mall Binh Tan, one of the popular shopping centers in Ho Chi Minh City, and the West Station (Ben Xe Mien Tay), a major bus station to the west of the city connecting to provinces in the Mekong Delta. Binh Tan is the district with the largest population among all of the 24 districts in Ho Chi Minh City, besides housing the most sizable cemetery in town. Find out what you can do in this emerging and promising district through our local guide!

Binh Tan District Overview

Situated to the west of the city, Binh Tan District covers a massive area of 52 square kilometers, 6 times the size of District 1, and the population is around 600,000 (2010), 3 times that of District 1, and scattered across 10 different wards whose names are interestingly relative: An Lac, An Lac A, Tan Tao, Tan Tao A, Binh Tri Dong, Binh Tri Dong A, Binh Tri Dong B, Binh Hung Hoa, Binh Hung Hoa A, and Binh Hung Hoa B. All these names contain a 'peaceful' or 'prosperous' element in meaning and largely explain the origin of the name "Binh Tan".

This district was originally a part of the ultimate suburban Binh Chanh District before the city government decided to split them up in 2003. Now, 15 years after its foundation, it is now a rising district with businesses emerging every day and development plans underway to improve the district's landscape. Among the 10 wards of Binh Tan District, probably the most familiar name is Binh Tri Dong B since it houses Aeon Mall Binh Tan, the iconic shopping mall where the young in Ho Chi Minh City love to hang out and eat at the food court.

Similarly to Binh Chanh District, Binh Tan plays a pivotal role in connecting Ho Chi Minh City to the western and all-important Mekong Delta via the crucial artery of the country, Highway 1A (Quoc Lo 1A). A large number of residents in Binh Tan relocate here from provinces within the Mekong Delta region to work in Tan Tao and Vinh Loc industrial parks.

As within Ho Chi Minh City, bordering Binh Tan Districts are all the lesser-known districts, namely District 6, District 9, Tan Phu District to the east, Binh Chanh District to the west, District 8 to the south, District 12 and Hoc Mon District to the north.

Although Binh Tan’s population is large, the density is low compared to smaller-sized districts. Nevertheless, the eclectic mix of religions and the diversity of ethnic groups here including Kinh, Chinese, Khmer, Cham, and the Muong promising an intriguing cultural experience.

How to Get to Binh Tan District

As we mentioned at the beginning of this guide, since one of the city’s most popular bus stations, West Station, is here, getting to Binh Tan District is quite straightforward. From Tan Son Nhat Airport, simply take Bus No. 119 straight to the West Station (Mien Tay Station). The distance is 15 km, and the fare is VND 20,000 (US$1). Total travel time: 65 minutes.

See updates of Bus No.119’s stops, fares and operating hours.

Read more about taking the bus in Ho Chi Minh City.

Currently, Bus No. 119 only runs from 4 AM to 8 PM, so if you need to travel outside this time frame, you should consider a taxi or a ride-hailing service. The fare is around US$7, depending on the taxi brand you choose and the traffic condition.

If you happen to be in District 5, District 7, or Long An province, you can opt-in to take the free bus operated by Aeon Mall Binh Tan. 

Attractions in Binh Tan District

If you ask for recommendations by a random local for where to go in Binh Tan District, chances are they’ll show you the way to Aeon Mall Binh Tan, the landmark that may ring a loud bell to you, we guess, because it has been referred to quite a few times in this guide so far. Yes, it is a worthwhile destination in Binh Tan, featuring all the most luxurious fashion brands, the best restaurant chains, trendy coffee shops and state-of-the-art play zones.

But the real charm of Binh Tan belongs in its extensive range of religious sites, predominantly Buddhist and Christian ones. Among these, the most splendid and extravagant in terms of architecture is Hue Nghiem Pagoda. A harmonious blend of mind-blowing manmade feats and verdant, calming trees, Hue Nghiem Pagoda is an ideal haven for all who want to seek respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life in big cities and find their peace of mind back.

Hue Nghiem Pagoda

Inside Hue Nghiem Pagoda

Learn more about the best pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City.

Eating in Binh Tan District

Restaurants, eateries, and street food establishments are diverse and ubiquitous across the 52-square-kilometer area of Binh Tan District. For fancy dining, you should head to Aeon Mall Binh Tan, but therein foreign dining brands overshadow local ones. Therefore, if you want something more “indigenous”, browse the streets of Binh Tri Dong B Ward and Tan Tao Ward to sample Vietnamese hotpot (especially goat hotpot and street-side BBQ), grills and other southern delicacies like bun mam (fish sauce noodles) and com tam (broken rice).

Shopping in Binh Tan District

Other than Aeon Mall Binh Tan, if you wish to have an authentic insight into Vietnamese locals, open-air markets, there are various decent options, such as An Lac Market and Binh Hung Hoa Market. Refer to the chart below.

Aeon Mall Binh Tan

Nightlife in Binh Tan District

Although it lies on the outskirts, Binh Tan is not so boring when it comes to nightlife activities. Aeon Mall Binh Tan is again a favorite hangout spot for everyone when the sun sets, and numerous coffee shops and karaoke bars are popular choices, too. Binh Tan District offers you two cool beer clubs - Phoenix Beer Club on Tran Van Giau Street and Simba Beer Club Buffet on Ho Van Long Street. 

Anyway, if these still sound somewhat lack of interest, check out the hottest bars and clubs in Ho Chi Minh where you can really let your hair down.

Summary of Binh Tan District in Ho Chi Minh City

An up-and-coming district with a rapid rate of development, Binh Tan harbors great potential amid some unrest that needs addressing. Explore the religious havens in Binh Tan or get a feel of Vietnamese local markets across its 10 wards if you happen to drop by. An eccentric but promising approach to Ho Chi Minh City travel.

Check out our guides for more interesting topics about Vietnamese history and culture, or discover these experience first hand with our cheerful, professional local guides.